Home / Food / Nutrition I’m a dietitian and here are my 10 favorite snack bars for kids Bars that are full of all the nutrients you want your kids to eat more of—with flavors they’ll love. By Kelsey Kunik March 1, 2024 Rectangle We independently select and share the products we love—and may receive a commission if you choose to buy. Keeping your kids fed is half the battle, but feeding them healthy foods they actually want to eat? That’s a superpower. If your kids are anything like mine, snacks are the main food group, and if they had it their way, it would be the only food group. Related: 10 healthy, on-the-go snacks for busy moms, according to a dietitian As a dietitian and a mom, I love making my kids healthy snacks like apple slices, peanut butter on whole grain toast, and homemade popcorn, but we often need snacks that transport well and will keep them full and focused in the afternoon at school, before soccer games or during long car rides. For these instances, I always have a pantry that’s well stocked with healthy snack bars for kids. When I’m busy making the kid’s lunches, I can quickly grab a snack bar and toss it in their bag for an afternoon snack or to eat on the long bus ride home. These convenient hand-held snacks are perfect for older kids but also toddlers who love to feed themselves. When my kids were small, snack bars in every purse, bag, and stroller saved us from many doctor’s office meltdowns and grocery store tantrums. While any snack will do in a pinch, I like to stock up on kid’s snack bars with the nutrients they need while limiting the ones they can easily get too much of. Here’s what I look for in a healthy snack bar for kids: Protein: The amount of protein I like to see in a snack bar will depend on how old your child is. Around 2 grams of protein per bar for toddlers is helpful, while older kids benefit from 5-10 grams. An extra protein boost helps them stay full and promotes growth and development. Fiber: While fruits and vegetables are an excellent way for your kids to meet their fiber needs, pickier eaters may have a difficult time getting enough. Snack bars with 1-3 grams of fiber can help your little one meet their fiber goals, which supports regular bowel movement and helps them feel full. Related: 7 nutrient-dense bedtime snacks for your kids’ evening routine, according to a dietitian Added sugars: Extra sugar is added to drinks, foods and condiments and can quickly add up in your child’s diet. Too many added sugars can lead to cavities and increase their risk of high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children under two avoid added sugars, and children two and older limit added sugars to 25 grams per day. I like to choose bars that have less than 2 grams of added sugars for younger children (although preferably none when possible) and under 5 grams per bar for older kids. As a dietitian, here are my favorite 10 healthy snack bars for kids of all ages Skout Organic Skout Organic Kids Snack Bars • $40.84 (36 bars) These snack bars are organic and vegan, and they come in six different flavors. Each bar has two to four grams of protein, and all but one flavor has no added sugars, as they’re naturally sweetened with dates and fruit! SHOP Amazon HappyTot HappyTot Fiber & Protein Organic Apples and Spinach Soft-Baked Oat Bar • $4.19 (5 bars) These soft oatmeal bars are perfect for toddlers with their soft texture and sweet taste. Each bar has four grams of fiber and seven grams of whole grains. SHOP Target YUMI YUMI Organic Apple and Cinnamon Squash Baby Snack Bar • $5.49 (5 bars) Yumi bars are ideal for little ones who need a little nutrient boost in their snack bar. Each bar has five grams of fiber and supplies 30 percent of the daily iron needs. Their naturally sweet taste comes from fruit purees, so there’s no need for added sugars! SHOP Target Good & Gather Organic Orange Sweet Potato Snack Bars • $3.39 (5 bars) From 12 months and up, these organic orange sweet potato snack bars are the perfect handheld bars for your toddler. Each bar has two grams of fiber and two grams of protein to help satisfy your little one on the go. SHOP Target Simply Protein Simply Protein Chocolate-Dipped Protein Bars Cookies and Cream • $9.89 (10 bars) I love these kid’s protein bars for older kids who enjoy traditional granola bars but need a little extra nutrition. They taste like a candy bar but have seven grams of protein, four grams of fiber and only four grams of added sugars. It’s a bar I feel good about my kids enjoying. SHOP Amazon MadeGood MadeGood Cookies & Crème Granola Bars • $4.29 (6 bars) For a snack your child can take to school, no matter what allergies are present in their classroom, MadeGood bars are a lifesaver. They’re free from the Top Eight Allergens and include two grams of protein and two grams of fiber to keep their tummies happy at snack time. The fact that each bar provides over 20 percent of their daily needs of vitamins A, D, E, B6 and C is just icing on the cake. SHOP Amazon That’s It That's it. Apple + Blueberry 100% Natural Real Fruit Bar • $25.70 (12 bars) A good option for older kids and teens who need an energy boost (and who may have trouble eating enough fruit). Each bar has an apple and 20 blueberries that have been dehydrated into a bar with no added sweeteners or fillers. While they don’t add a lot of protein, each bar has three grams of fiber and is gluten-free and allergen-friendly. SHOP Amazon Once Upon a Farm Once Upon a Farm Strawberry Organic Refrigerated Oat Bar • $2.99 (1 bar) While these refrigerated oat bars lose a small amount of appeal from having to stay refrigerated, they gain it all back with one look at the nutrient label. Perfect for toddlers to big kids (you might even sneak a taste yourself), each bar has four grams of fiber and protein and no added sugars. The ingredient list is surprisingly short, made up of mostly oats, fruit puree, and coconut oil. SHOP Target Clif CLIF Nut Butter Bar – Peanut Butter • $7.59 (5 bars) When your older kid needs a snack bar that will hold them over, Clif nut butter bars should do the trick. Each bar has 230 calories and plenty of healthy fats and protein from peanut butter. They’ll also get a fiber boost of three grams from each bar and should have no problems eating it as it tastes like a candy bar but with only six grams of added sugars! SHOP Amazon Dino Bar Dino Bars Organic Strawberry Fruit Bar • $41.99 (20 bars) This organic fruit bar is made with just a handful of ingredients and is perfect for your little ones, ages one and up, to get a little more fruit in their day. Each bar has over 200 percent of a toddler’s daily requirements of vitamin C, giving even picky eaters a big nutrient boost! Plus, the edible paper that’s wrapped around each bar will keep your little one’s hands from getting too sticky. SHOP Amazon The latest Food We can’t get enough of chilicuterie boards this fall Baby Milestones Starting solids? Don’t miss the ‘flavor window’ Motherly Stories 5 things to know about introducing solids, from a mom in the midst Baby Health This new baby food company lets you check each package for heavy metals